Cameras catch abuse of patients

By The Dominion (Wellington)

February 22, 2002

VIDEO surveillance in a Christchurch rest home picked up an employee punching and slapping elderly patients suffering from dementia, Christchurch District Court was told yesterday.

James Hemi Tapara, 54, who admitted a charge of assault, had worked at the resthome for eight years mainly as an activities officer before the abuse was discovered by the video surveillance in October last year.

The surveillance began when complaints about Tapara's behaviour surfaced after he lost his role as activities manager and was placed on personal care duties.

The resthome, the name of which has been suppressed, engaged a private investigator to set up the surveillance.

Tapara had been convicted of a domestic assault about 10 years ago and spent about eight months in jail.

Prosecutor Vanessa Sugrue told the court the surveillance cameras had picked up Tapara manhandling and hitting two patients.

In one case, Tapara pulled a man out of bed roughly, twisted his ear and slapped him on the leg.

He later put him in a headlock, and punched and slapped him.

When the victim threw a pillow on the floor, Tapara picked it up and shoved it hard in his face.

In the case of the second victim, Tapara pulled him roughly into bed and pushed him down harshly by the head when he tried to get up.

When confronted, Tapara conceded that some of his actions were improper. He said he was under stress and frustrated in the job.

Judge John Bisphan said jail was very likely and the granting of bail was not to be taken as an indication of sentence.

Tapara was remanded on bail till early next month for sentencing. -- NZPA

Copyright 2002 Wellington Newspapers Limited
...02/22/2002

Supplied by New Zealand Press Association

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